AFRICAN SPIRITUALITY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - Kara.co.za

AFRICAN SPIRITUALITY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
By
Prof. Mathole Motshekga
Executive Director: Kara Heritage Institute
Self knowledge shall set you free
Paper delivered at the Kara Roundtable, Richards Bay, KwaZulu Natal
Date: 18 – 19 April 2008
Place: Richards Bay
Kara Heritage Institute
No. 70 Ga-Motlhe Building
Cnr Potgieter & Church Streets
Pretoria
0001
Tel: (012) 328 5028
Fax: (012) 328 5037
E-mail: admin@kara.co.za
Website: www.kara.co.za
P.O. Box 2442
Pretoria
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Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. THE ULTIMATE PRINCIPLES OF BEING
3. THE LAW OF SQUARES
4. THE PYRAMID
5. THE AFRICAN CALENDAR
5.1 THE NORMAL YEAR
5.2 THE GREAT YEAR
6. THE BLACK MADONNA AND CHILD
7. THE BABOON EMBLEM
8. THE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN REGENERATION
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1. INTRODUCTION
The primary object of this paper is to show that African Religion is informed by
theosophy (i.e. Spiritual Knowledge), which makes religion a spiritual science which
require both faith and knowledge.
2. THE ULTIMATE PRINCIPLES OF BEING
At the beginning was the Nothingness or non-being. Out of this Nothingness came the
First Cause (Ptah) that manifested itself as nine (Pauti) principles. The First Cause and
its nine aspects were rolled up into ten principles called the Decade that came out of
Nothingness. This Decade comprised the totality of the energy (Amun) of the First
Cause (Ptah). The energy (Amun) of the First Cause consists of:
A + M + U + N = Amun
A + M + E + N = Amen
A + M + OU + N = Amoun
A + M + A + Ni = Amani
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10
Thus the energy (Amun) of the First Cause (Ptah) is consubstantial with the Decade (i.e.
ten principles) that came out of Nothingness.
This Decade is called Hathara (i.e. the House of the Divine Light). The entire
Universe(s) emanated from Hathara, also known as Mara (i.e. the Mother of the Sun).
the child of Hathara is Hara and that of Mara is Ra. The two principles Hara and Ra
refers to the Sun. The Hara is the spirit of the Visible Sun while Ra is the manifested
Solar principle.
The Solar (Ra) principle manifested itself as the Harana or Arhana. These names have
the following variations.
• Karana
• Arkana
The Karana (or Harana) is a triune principle known as:
• Usarmaatra
• Nubmaatra
• Menmaatra
These concepts consists of:
• Usara + maat + Ra = Usarmaatra
• Nuba + maat + Ra = Nubmaatra
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• Mena + maat + Ra = Menmaatra
• Mind + thought + Word = Higher Self
• Spirit + Soul + reason = Higher Self
The three aspects of the Karana (or Arkana) principle represents the spiritual father
(Usara), mother (maat), and child (Ra). At the material level these triune being is
represented by Usara (Osiris), (m)usasi (Isis), and Hara (Horus).
These three gods are the prime movers of creation. They created the universe through the
Law of Squares which says in a right-angled triangle the square on the hypotenuse is
equals to the sum of the squares on the other two sides.
3. THE LAW OF SQUARES
In the Law of Squares, falsely called the theorem of Pythagoras, the law of creation
reads:
Usara 2 + maat 2 = Ra 2
Nuba 2 + maat 2 = Ra 2
Mena 2 + maat 2 = Ra 2
Usara 2 + (m) usasi2 = Hara 2
Osiris 2 + Isis 2 = Horus 2
a 2 + b 2 = c 2
3 2 + 4 2 = 5 2
9 + 16 = 25
25 = 25
Ґ25 = Ґ25
5 = 5
In this law of creation
3 = mind, thought and Word
4 = the four elements of water, fire, earth and air
5 = the five elements of ether, water, fire, earth and air
25 = the 25 spheres of being
The 25 spheres of being manifested themselves as the Pyramid (Pyramaat i.e. door to and
from heaven)
4. THE PYRAMID
= 3
11 + 11 = 22
11 11 3 + 22 = 25
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22/7 = 3.15
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In the ratio: 3:15
3 = Horus
15 = the fifteen messengers of Horus
The first messenger is Lord Khem (or Ham), also known as ThauThau-Harama (Thoth-
Hermes). The remaining fourteen messengers represent the 14 days between the new and
full moon.
5. THE AFRICAN CALENDAR
Thus the number 15 represent 15 descending and 15 ascending gods who govern earthly
or human affairs. The descend and ascent of the gods take 30 (15+15) days which make
the Lunar month.
The heavens are divided into 12 units called the houses of the moon (ma/maia) and the
sun (Ra) or the union (mara/maria) of the moon and the sun. These houses are used to
compute time. Time is divided into hours, days, months and years. The African
Calendar is made out of the normal and great year.
5.1 THE NORMAL YEAR
The time that the moon take to complete an orbit on its axis is called an hour. The earth
takes 24 hours to complete one orbit on its axis. Twenty-four hours make out a day. The
moon spends 30 days in each division of heaven or sign of the Zodiac. Thus a year is
made out of 360 (30 x 12) days. After its orbit of 360 days the sun rests for 5 days or 6
days in case of a leap year. The 5 or 6 days are added to 360 days producing 365 or 366
in the case of a leap year.
5.2 THE GREAT YEAR
Each of the 12 divisions of heaven is made out of 3 groups of 10 stars called the Decans.
Thus each sign of Zodiac consists of 3 decans and the 12 signs consists of 36 (3 x 12)
decans. It takes the sun 72 years to traverse one of the 30 stars and 2160 (72 x 30) to
traverse one sign of the Zodiac and 25,920 (2160 X 12) years to traverse the 12 signs of
the Zodiac. The period of 25,920 is called the great year.
6. THE BLACK MADONNA AND CHILD
Thus it for the relationship between heaven and earth. The Sun (Ra) represents the First
cause (ptah) which is a female (ma) and male (Ra) principle. The Solar (Ra) principle
split female (ma) and male (Ra) aspects which manifested themselves as the union(ma tra
mara) of the two aspects of the Solar (Ra) principle are represented by the plane Venus
(mara)
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The two aspects of the Solar (Ra) principle in Mara interacted and reproduced the Divine
Light (Kara) which is represented by the planet mercury (Kara), which is represented by
the planet trinity
Consisting of the Sun (Ra), the planets Venus (Mara) and mercury
(Kara) is symbolized by the Kara (Charaoh) emblem
The outer circle represents the nothingness out of which life originated
Then encircled point represents the self-begotten First Cause Tapa (or Pata)
popularly known as Ptah
P
X
represents the Solar (Ra) principle that originate from the Female/male mind
(Atum) of Ptah.
this X monogram represents the four children of the Solar (Ra) principle
which the guard the four quarters of the universe.
Thus there are three principles which emanated from the Nothingness or the Non-being.
The solar trinity reproduced the vital life(Akhet). The Solar trinity and the Akhet is
symbolized by a line drawn from left to right through the Solar emblem resulting in an
eight rayed symbol or flower of life
The Flower of Life
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This flower of life is called Ra Harakhte or Xpakhte or IAO or JAH Abakara or Abakara
(Greek Abraxas).
The vital force ( Akhet or IAO/JAH) is the cosmic spirit symbolized by the
solar disc ( ) or the five pointed star [ ]
These symbols are mounted on a lunar crescent to symbolize the union of the moon
(ma/maia) and the Sun (Ra) as the mother and father of life respectively.
The union of the Solar ( ) and Lunar ( ) principles make out the androgyne
mother which is symbolized by the Solar disc ( ) or five pointed star ( )
mounted on a Lunar Crescent
or
. This androgyne mothers is worshiped as
Mara. T his name has the following variants
Mari (Karanga/Rozwi)
Mwari (Karanga/Rozwi)
Mwali (Kalanga/Lozwi)
Mwalinkulunkulu (Nguni)
Muali (Chilozwi/khelobedu)
Muhali Chilozwi/khelobedu/ venda)
Muhale (Khelobedu)
Mohale (South Sotho)
Mogale (North Sotho)
The child of Mara is the Word (Mbi) of the Divine Light (Kara or raka) or the word
(mbe) of the Sun (Ra/Re).
Thus the sun of the androgyne mother is called
mbe + kara = mbekara
Mbe + raka =mberaka
Mbi + re =mbire
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The word of the sun or the Divine Light is symbolized by the baboon (soko or shoko).
Thus the word of the sun or Divine Light is called Soko Mbire or Soko Mbekara.
The earth emanated from the word of the Sun or the Divine Light. The relationship of
thee Anarogyne (Lunar) mother, the word of the Sun (or the Divine Light) and the earth
is symbolized by the baboon squatting on a cube (Kaba) symbolizing the earth. This
baboon carries a Lunar crescent with a solar also or five-pointed star mounted on it.
These symbols correspond to the solar trinity.
7. THE BABOON MONOGRAM
the solar disc represents the Sun (Ra)
the Lunar Crescent represent the moon or planet venus.
the baboon or Bennu bird represent the planet mercury (Kara)
Thus these symbols represent the spiritual father, mother and child.
The earth (Tamara/Kumara) emanated from and contained the three spiritual principles.
The earth is made out of the four elements of water (manu), fire (aakhut), earth (rastau)
and air ( amenti). Thus the earth represents the union between Spirit) (pyra) and matter
(maat) known as the pyramaat (greek pyramid). The interaction of spirit (pyra) and
matter (maat) or fire (pyra) and water (maat) reproduces the vital force, cosmic spirit or
world soul which creates everything through the law of emanations and adaptations.
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The pyramaat is the birth place of the male (ra) and female (ma) and their offspring
(nuba). Thus the pyramaat is the birthplace of Haramanuba of Haramakhet.
The relationship between heaven and earth provides a framework for human regeneration
through African Yoga – the philosophy and Art of Personal Development.
8. THE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN REGENERATION
The One or th e good that we call god is made out of spirit (Kabachat/Mundu) and the
four elements of water (Manu), fire (Aakhut), earth (Rastau) and air (Amenti). Thus the
Godhead consists of seven elements.
The three spiritual elements are represented by equilateral triangle whilst the four
elements are represented by a square. The triangle is either placed inside the square or
mounted on the square:
The Arkana
Fig. I
The Pyramid
= The Pyramaat (the spiritual body)
= Rastau (i.e. physical body)
Fig. II
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Figures I and II represent the ultimate substance of the Godhead which is shared by
humanity. This means that God and the inner human personality are consubstantial (i.e.
made of the same essence). Thus the African Sage Imhotep (Greek Aesclepius) said
(hu)man is greatest miracle because s/he is both mortal and immortal. S/he is mortal
because the physical body dies but immortal because the spiritual body
(Kabachat/Mundu) survives the death of the physical body. This immortality or divinity
of the human being is the basis of human dignity.
The equilateral triangle [ ] embodies the spiritual and physical world. The circle
within the square represents the nothingness from which all life emanated.
The encircled point [ ] represents the First Cause (Ptah) from which the nine
ultimate principles emanated while the square represents the physical manifestation of the
spiritual trinity made out of the mind (Atum), thought (Ntura), and word (Akhet).
The 3 sides of the triangle represent:
• The seven Pleiades stars
• The seven outer planets
• The seven energy centres of the earth and the individual
Thus the triangle consists of 21 (7+7+7) rungs of the ladder of heaven which links the
universe with the First Cause [
] and the earth (Tamara or Kumara).
The four sides of the square consists of 14 aspects each, bringing the total number to 56
(14 X 4).
The
First Cause (Ptah) and its 21 aspects gives us 22 arcane principles. The 56 aspects of
the physical world and 22 aspects of the spiritual world make out 78 aspects of being
which are described in 78 Tarot Cards.
THE TAROT
T
O
A
R
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The Tarot refers to the God of Light who holds together the four quarters of the earth.
The Tarot has the following variants:
• T + A + R + O = TARO
• T + O + R + A = TORA
• R + O + T + A = ROTA
The name Tarot and its variants refer to the Bull of Heaven which is symbolised by the
tau (+) cross which holds together the four quarters of the universe. The Tarot means the
Solar (or Royal) path.
The Solar (or Royal) path is the way to human regeneration. Thus it can be correctly
described as the Solar or Royal Path to human regeneration.
The Human Regeneration Programme
The human spirit is imprisoned by matter. This imprisonment limits the intellectual
opportunities available to the individual. The human regeneration programme (HRP)
affords an individual the opportunity to rise above its physical limitations and achieve its
fullest potential. This state of enlightenment is achieved through the Solar or Royal Path
to human regeneration. This philosophy and art of personal development is called
African Yoga. The name Yoga (Afr. YUGA) means to unite or make two things one.
These two things are the spiritual being imprisoned by the physical body and the spiritual
trinity residing in the celestial (or heavenly) kingdom of light. Thus those that have
achieved this state of consciousness are called the Karaites (i.e. the enlightened ones).
Such persons are born again i.e. reborn in spirit whilst still in their physical body.
The union of the Divine Spark or God within and the One (or God without) is the
ultimate goal of being that we should all aspire for. Some achieve this state of
consciousness after the death of the physical body whilst a select few achieve it during
this life.
For tho se that are not naturally conscious of their spiritual being they can achieve this
consciousness through education and training. In this module we present the Art of
Huma n Regeneration Programme (HRP) designed to reawake our inner consciousness
and
unite it with the cosmic consciousness.
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